Video 8:56
Skype sex scandal victim sues the Defence Force

Michael BrissendenUpdated
Mon Nov 04 20:42:00 EST 2013

'Kate' is the young woman at the centre of the Skype sex scandal at the Australian Defence Force Academy and, in her first interview since the sentencing of the men involved, she describes the victimisation and bullying she has received after going public, and reveals that she is suing the ADF.

Transcript

LEIGH SALES, PRESENTER: Few other scandals have rocked the Australian Defence establishment as much as the one surrounding a young woman known as "Kate", secretly filmed in 2011 having sex with a colleague.

The footage was streamed live on Skype to a room at the Australian Defence Force Academy, where five other cadets watched.

The public exposure of that incident plunged the ADF into a criminal trial and two years of inquiries, leading to the airing of thousands more allegations of abuse and misconduct.

Meanwhile, "Kate", just 18 at the time, has endured a devastating ordeal.

Tonight she speaks out to reveal she's now suing the ADF, telling Defence correspondent Michael Brissenden she's faced two and a half years of bullying and victimisation since she went public.

'KATE': In the past two and a half years I've tried really hard not to let what happened to me define me, but that's hard to do when everybody else only ever sees you as that girl, as that Skype slut.

MICHAEL BRISSENDEN, REPORTER: After six reviews and one high level inquiry, the woman at the centre of the case that kicked off the cultural crisis in the military says she wants more than institutional self-reflection. She says she's planning to sue Defence.

MICHAEL BRISSENDEN: In 2011 the Air Force cadet known as "Kate" was secretly filmed by Daniel McDonald, a fellow cadet at the Australian Defence Force Academy while they were having sex. Another cadet, Dylan De Blaquiere, streamed the scene over the internet into a nearby room. Tonight, "Kate" talks at length for the first time about the impact of being at the centre of that public storm and of breaking open the Defence culture.

'KATE': I suffered victimisation and bastardisation, it seemed, from every angle in my life when it came to the Defence Force. Everywhere I went, there seemed to be a new incident that would occur. It follows you everywhere you go. When I was living, I was living on base at Amberley and I couldn't leave my room except to go to work because the boys in the room across from me thought it was fun to terrorise me and call me the Skype slut continually every time I left my room. So, it takes its toll. You get to the point where you just want it to stop, you want everything - you do question whether or not you made the right decision.

MICHAEL BRISSENDEN: Earlier this year, both McDonald and De Blaquiere were found guilty of sending offensive material over the internet without consent. McDonald was also found guilty of an act of indecency. Just 10 days ago, the ACT Supreme Court handed down a non-custodial sentence, two 12-months good behaviour bonds for McDonald, one 12-month good behaviour bond for De Blaquiere.

'KATE': It's setting a really scary example and I do believe it's going to act as a deterrent for other victims of similar crimes to come forward. I don't believe it was a sentence at all. Good behaviour should be a general expectation and I don't feel with the severity what have they've done that there was any form of sentence.

MICHAEL BRISSENDEN: Do you think the sentence should be appealed?

'KATE': Yes, definitely. I definitely urge the DPP to consider launching an appeal against the sentence.

MICHAEL BRISSENDEN: At the sentencing the judge admitted he'd struggled with whether imprisonment was appropriate or not. He described the incident as a serious violation of the victim's right to privacy, that it exposed her to humiliation and ridicule.

"Kate" says she'd also like some recognition from them that what they did was wrong.

'KATE': They've never once apologised for what they've done. They've never once actually admitted guilt for what they've done, even after they were found guilty in the courts. Their lawyer even came out after the sentence and continued to put further blame onto me by making the comment that he believed that everybody involved that night would've done things differently had they had their chance over again. So basically he was saying that I should feel guilty for putting my trust in a guy who I thought was trustworthy and that's not fair.

MICHAEL BRISSENDEN: Aside from its obvious impact on "Kate", the Skype scandal shocked the public and rocked the Defence establishment and saw calls at every level for cultural change, the apex of which was this powerful video from the Chief of Army David Morrison in response to another sex-related Defence scandal involving a group of officers engaged in online sexual misconduct who'd called themselves the Jedi Council.

DAVID MORRISON, CHIEF OF ARMY (June 13): Those who think that it is OK to behave in a way that demeans or exploits their colleagues have no place in this army. ... On all operations, female soldiers and officers have proven themselves worthy of the best traditions of the Australian Army. They are vital to us, maintaining our capability now and into the future. If that does not suit you, then get out.

MICHAEL BRISSENDEN: But "Kate" for one says the rhetoric has yet to be matched by action.

'KATE': Elizabeth Broderick released her reviews into the sexual culture at ADFA and then in the wider Defence Force and that was two years ago now. In phase one of that there was 36 recommendations, and as of recently, only eight of those have been actioned by the Defence Force. When are we going to see change? When are we going to see these people made answer for their actions? When are we going to see victims - when are we going to see victims better protected and supported?

MICHAEL BRISSENDEN: Elizabeth Broderick acknowledges the critical role that "Kate" and the Skype scandal have played in shining the spotlight on a dark area of Defence culture. And while she recognises the courage of "Kate's" convictions, she says change is coming.

ELIZABETH BRODERICK, SEX DISCRIMINATION COMMISSIONER: Cultural change is slow and sometimes it's frustrating that it is so slow. What I've seen really significant cultural change. Is it a finished picture? No, absolutely not. There's still a number of things that I think need much further work, but I have to say I've seen a deep personal and organisational commitment to cultural change and I've been quite heartened by that.

MICHAEL BRISSENDEN: But "Kate" says Defence has been actively working to discredit her and defend the institution at the expense of the victim. At one point, she says, her medical records were leaked to a newspaper.

'KATE': The only place it could come from is the Defence Force. There was an incident where my medical records were obtained without the correct permission. And then a couple of days after I found out about that, there was a news story run about sensitive personal information that only could come from my medical documents, including the fact that I was on the contraceptive pill at the time.

MICHAEL BRISSENDEN: How did you feel when that information came out?

'KATE': It was just yet another invasion of my privacy. I mean, this all started because a guy decided it would be fun to invade my privacy and then Defence seemed to just continue - to continue degrading me further and it just didn't make sense.

MICHAEL BRISSENDEN: "Kate" says Defence has now declared her medically unfit, but she says she hopes her experience will help change things for women who remain or who are yet to serve.

'KATE': It's definitely at a great personal cost that I came forward with the issues, but I don't regret coming forward from it. First and foremost, it's about bringing about cultural change within the Defence Force. My case and then subsequent issues after that have highlighted a very real need for cultural change for women in the Defence Force because at the moment it's not acceptable.

LEIGH SALES: And a short time ago, Defence sent 7.30 a statement, saying it's provided extensive support to "Kate", including logistical, medical, administrative and legal help and will continue to do so.

It denies providing her medical information to the media, saying records have only ever gone to official investigators, in accordance with the Privacy Act.